36 matching verse commentaries
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This book begins with the reign of Solomon and the building of the temple, and continues the history of the kings of Judah thenceforward to the captivity and so concludes with the fall of that illustrious monarchy and the destruction of the temple. That monarchy of the house of David, as it was prior in time, so it was superior in worth and...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Solomon's trading, which we read of in the close of the foregoing chapter, and the encouragement he gave both to merchandise and manufacturers, were very commendable. But building was the work he was designed for, and to that business he is here applying himself. Here is, I. Solomon's determination to build the temple and a royal palace, and his...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
It was a much larger and more particular account of the building of the temple which we had in the book of Kings than is here in this book of Chronicles. In this chapter we have, I. The place and time of building the temple, ver. 1, 2. II. The dimensions and rich ornaments of it, ver. 3-9. III. The cherubim in the most holy place, ver. 10-13. IV....
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have here a further account of the furniture of God's house. I. Those things that were of brass. The altar for burnt-offerings (ver. 1), the sea and lavers to hold water (ver. 2-6), the plates with which the doors of the court were overlaid (ver. 9), the vessels of the altar, and other things, ver. 10-18. II. Those that were of gold. The...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The temple being built and furnished for God, we have here, I. Possession given to him, by bringing in the dedicated things (ver. 1), but especially the ark, the token of his presence, ver. 2-10. II. Possession taken by him, in a cloud, ver. 11-14. For if any man open the door of his heart to God he will come in, Rev. iii. 20. The Ark Placed in...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The glory of the Lord, in the vehicle of a thick cloud, having filled the house which Solomon built, by which God manifested his presence there, he immediately improves the opportunity, and addresses God, as a God now, in a peculiar manner, nigh at hand. I. He makes a solemn declaration of his intention in building this house, to the satisfaction...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have God's answer to Solomon's prayer. I. His public answer by fire from heaven, which consumed the sacrifices (ver. 1), with which the priests and people were much affected, ver. 2, 3. By that token of God's acceptance they were encouraged to continue the solemnities of the feast for fourteen days, and Solomon was encouraged to...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we are told, I. What cities Solomon built, ver. 1-6. II. What workmen Solomon employed, ver. 7-10. III. What care he took about a proper settlement for his wife, ver. 11. IV. What a good method he put the temple-service into, ver. 12-16. V. What trading he had with foreign countries, ver. 17, 18. Solomon's Buildings. (b. c. 992.) 1...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Solomon here continues to appear great both at home and abroad. We had this account of his grandeur, 1 Kings x. Nothing is here added; but his defection towards his latter end, which we have there (ch. xi.), is here omitted, and the close of this chapter brings him to the grave with an unstained reputation. Perhaps none of the chapters in the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter is copied almost verbatim from 1 Kings xii. 1-19, where it was opened at large. Solomon's defection from God was not repeated, but the defection of the ten tribes from his family is, in this chapter, where we find, I. How foolish Rehoboam was in his treating with them, ver. 1, 5-14. II. How wicked the people were in complaining of...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We are here going on with the history of Rehoboam. I. His attempt to recover the ten tribes he has lost, and the letting fall of that attempt in obedience to the divine command, ver. 1-4. II. His successful endeavours to preserve the two tribes that remained, ver. 5-12. III. The resort of the priests and Levites to him, ver. 13-17. IV. An account...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter gives us a more full account of the reign of Rehoboam than we had before in Kings and it is a very melancholy account. Methinks we are in the book of Judges again; for, I. Rehoboam and his people did evil in the sight of the Lord, ver. 1. II. God thereupon sold them into the hands of Shishak, king of Egypt, who greatly oppressed them,...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have here a much fuller account of the reign of Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, than we had in the Kings. There we found that his character was no better than his father's—he "walked in the sins of his father, and his heart was not right with God," 1 Kings xv. 2, 3. But here we find him more brave and successful in war than his father was. He...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this and the two following chapters we have the history of the reign of Asa, a good reign and a long one. In this chapter we have, I. His piety, ver. 1-5. II. His policy, ver. 6-8. III. His prosperity, and particularly a glorious victory he obtained over a great army of Ethiopians that came out against him, ver. 9-15. Asa King of Judah. (b. c....
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Asa and his army were now returning in triumph from the battle, laden with spoils and adorned with the trophies of victory, the pious prince, we may now suppose, studying what he should render to God for this great favour. He knew that the work of reformation, which he had begun in his kingdom, was not perfected; his enemies abroad were subdued,...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter concludes the history of the reign of Asa, but does not furnish so pleasing an account of his latter end as we had of his beginning. I. Here is a foolish treaty with Benhadad king of Syria, ver. 1-6. II. The reproof which God sent him for it by a prophet, ver. 7-9. III. Asa's displeasure against the prophet for his faithfulness, ver....
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Here begin the life and reign of Jehoshaphat, who was one of the first three among the royal worthies, one of the best that ever swayed the sceptre of Judah since David's head was laid. He was the good son of a good father, so that, as this time, grace ran in the blood, even in the blood-royal. Happy the son that had such a father, to lay a good...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The story of this chapter we had just as it is here related in the story of the reign of Ahab king of Israel, 1 Kings xxii. There it looks more creditable to Ahab than any thing else recorded of him that he was in league with so good a man as Jehoshaphat; here it is a great blemish in the reign of Jehoshaphat that he thus connected himself with so...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have here a further account of the good reign of Jehoshaphat, I. His return in peace to Jerusalem, ver. 1. II. The reproof given him for his league with Ahab, and his acting in conjunction with him, ver. 2, 3. III. The great care he took thereupon to reform his kingdom, ver. 4. IV. The instructions he gave to his judges, both those in the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have here, I. The great danger and distress that Jehoshaphat and his kingdom were in from a foreign invasion, ver. 1, 2. II. The pious course he took for their safety, by fasting, and praying, and seeking God, ver. 3-13. III. The assurance which God, by a prophet, immediately gave them of victory, ver. 14-17. IV. Their thankful believing...